Social services provided by Catholic Charities, Diocese of Fresno consist of three main components that assist individuals primarily in crisis situations and in time of difficult transitions. Emergency Assistance is provided to people who are in crisis and in need of emergency aid with items such as clothing, shelter, and or bus fare. Client crisis range from victim assistance services to aiding a client with low, income afford a bus fare in specific situations. Clients are referred to this service by churches, schools, and social workers.

Helping individuals in times of transition is The Parolee Box Program, which provides indigent inmates with clothing and shoes to enable them to parole without having to purchase clothing from the prison store upon their release. In fact, there are 33 state prisons in California, nine of which are located within the Diocese of Fresno. We currently serve Chowchilla, Avenal, and Corcoran State Prisons.

Referred to our agency through social workers, individuals going through an emergency crisis receive vouchers redeemable at Catholic Charities, Fresno area Thrift Store, located conveniently adjacent to our social services office. The Thrift Store sells used second-hand clothing, furniture, household items, etc. Thrift Store proceeds support the efforts of the previously mentioned Social Service Programs.